THE DISCOURSE OF IDENTITY IN THE RELATIONAL APPROACH

Abstract

This article explores identity as a discursive construct within the framework of relational psychoanalysis and intersubjective theory. Relevance. Contemporary psychotherapeutic practice in the Ukrainian social context increasingly addresses issues of identity crisis, ego fragmentation, and the consequences of traumatic experiences—particularly those linked to military events. This calls for new theoretical frameworks to understand how identity is formed and transformed within the analytic process. Objective. The aim of the study is to conceptualize identity as a discourse co-constructed by the analyst and the analysand within the intersubjective psychological space. Methodology. The research is based on theoretical analysis and synthesis of contemporary psychoanalytic literature and philosophical approaches to the problem of identity. A comparative-analytical method is used to contrast essentialist and constructivist perspectives on the nature and development of the self. Clinical vignettes from the author's therapeutic practice are employed to illustrate key concepts. Results. The study substantiates that identity in the psychoanalytic process is not a fixed internal structure but arises and transforms through dialogical interaction and unconscious meaning-making between therapist and patient. The relational unconscious (the intersubjective «analytic third») is presented as a shared space in which identity discourse unfolds, including mutual projections, identifications, and the co-creation of self-narratives. The article highlights the theoretical innovation of this approach: it reconsiders traditional notions of a unified «self» in favor of a dynamic multiplicity of self-states that emerge in relational contexts. Conclusions. Understanding identity as a discursive process allows for more flexible therapeutic engagement with impasses and crises related to self-definition. This opens up the possibility for jointly reinterpreting the patient's narratives, integrating conflicting aspects of personality, and restoring a sense of self-coherence. Perspectives. The findings lay the groundwork for further research integrating psychoanalytic and discursive methods in identity studies, as well as for developing clinical approaches aimed at working with identity crises and post-traumatic disorders within the relational paradigm.